A week ago My tuck just quit starting with the key but it would work by jumping the starter solenoid. I bought a new ignition switch(the one under the dash) and installed it. I soon found out that the long rod that inserts into it from the top of the steering column, was disconected from the ignition actuator switch. My neighbor helped me get the steering wheel off and get into the steering column, to find out the actuator was broken in 3 places. We got the old one out and replaced it with a new one, but the truck still won't start. With the actuator fully depressed, I get all dash lights and full power from the battery but only power to one side of the solenoid.

Anybody got any ideas on what to do from here?

 

Will it still start by jumping the solenoid? When jumping the solenoid, do you connect the two large terminals or one large terminal and the small terminal that the wire just slip off of? Also do you have an automatic transmission or a manual transmission?

 

It is an automatic. The steering column will be put back together tomorrow. I was jumping it from the sonenoid, before replacing parts. I was using the to large connectors not the large and small one. Do you think I shorted the solenoid out?

It will ba at least Tues. before I will be able to get back and even look at it due to my work schedule.

 

You have a bad connection most likely. I doubt the ignition switch had anything to do with your problem. Could be the relay is bad but my experiance has been its most likely a dirty loose connection. Clean and check them all. I've replaced the ignition switch myself in this situation only to find it was a connection.

 

Well it may not have been the ignition switch. I do know that the root problem was the ignition actuator. It was broken and had to be drilled out of the column. The problem now is finding the connection problem.

 

Now everything has been replaced, and did find out needed a new battery cable. It now will start from the solenoid, but not from the key switch.

 

Those solenoids DO go bad. They're cheap enough, why not try replacing it? Did you ohm out the relay coil?